NATIONAL TOURS FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN GRADE 4 – 11 (9 – 17 year olds)

Aims: to expose our school children to different parts of their own country to learn about their multicultural heritage, the diverse fauna and flora, the need for conservation and preservation of natural resources, respect and responsibility for the environment and lastly management of themselves on tour as part of a group.

Suggestions:

Grade 4 : keep the tours local, close to home for children who can’t sleep over, but can still join for the day’s activities, 2 nights away to let them experience managing themselves and their belongings away from the home, accommodation at resorts separate from the general public

Grade 5 : further from home so that the child gets to experience 2 nights away where they need to manage themselves as well as a longer bus ride to endure, accommodation at resorts separate from the general public

Grade 6 : a reasonably long bus journey away from school and 3 nights away for the children to experience long distance travel, managing themselves in a bus’s confined space, experience a totally different region either culturally or by biome, accommodation separate from the general public

Grade 7 : 3 nights away to experience either a totally different region or province. It either involves a long bus ride or flight. How to manage yourself with travel, being in the public eye and away from what is familiar and following safety procedures, accommodation separate from the general public as far as possible otherwise will be with strict security in place

Grade 8 :  3 – 4 nights away and the need for great responsibility to manage oneself in the public eye, using transport from boats, to buses, to flights, to safari vehicles, adventure activities following safety protocols and managing oneself eating in restaurants and accommodation might have general public as well, but strict security in place

Grade 9 : 4 nights away, managing flights and other modes of travel, either a neighbouring country of a different province of SA, eating in restaurants and partaking in adventure activities, accommodation might have general public as well with security in place

Grade 10 & 11 : More endurance and perseverance needed with more challenging adventure activities, following safety protocols, being in the public eye, eating in restaurants, 4 – 5 nights away to manage oneself, more freedom given for self-management, accommodation might have general public as well with security in place

 

Suggestions for tours for schools from Gauteng

Grade 4: Cradle of Humankind

Day 1:

Lesedi Cultural Village – experience 5 traditional African cultures, visit their villages and dance demonstrations

Lion and Safari Park – game drive through lion, cheetah, wild dog enclosures to learn about our African wildlife

Day 2:

Sterkfontein Caves and Maropeng – tour both to hear about human evolution, archeological findings and explore the meaning of being human

Facilitated co-operative and team building games at the accommodation

Day 3:

Croc City reptile tour and zipline over crocodile enclosures – classification of reptiles, 3 different species of crocodiles, respect for reptiles and safety around them

Grade 4 & 5 : Parys

Day 1:

Science Bono Science Centre – science show, group activities to explore physics and chemistry

Vredefort Dome education – what is a meteorite, geology activities that explain the rich minerals of the Witwatersrand

Day 2:

Morning river rafting on the Vaal River with qualified river guides

Guided hike along the Vredefort Dome crater edge with a map orientation activity

Day 3:

River ecology with group activities – the life in our rivers, water purification and river conservation

Dell Cheetah tour – cheetah education and conservation

Grade 5 : Magaliesberg

Day 1:

Sci Bono Science Centre – science show, group activities to explore physics and chemistry

Ann van Dyk Cheetah Sanctuary – cheetah education & wild dog conservation

Day 2:

Bush Baby Monkey Sanctuary – 4 different primates and their conservation

Hartebees Elephant Sanctuary – elephant education and conservation in SA

4km guided hike – geology and history of the area

Day 3:

Quad biking (Gr 5 only) – an introduction to quad bikes using a field to gain confidence and experience

Horse Riding – an introduction to horse riding and safety around horses. An opportunity to ride on a horse being led by a handler

Grade 6: Mpumalanga

Day 1:

Sudwala Caves – cave formations, early man in the area

Sudwala Dinosaur Park – guided tour tracing animals from dinosaurs to present day  crocodiles

The Butterfly Effect Nature Garden – learn about plants and flowers that attract butterflies and bees, visit the butterfly dome, walk the Unity Labyrinth for a journey of self awareness.

Day 2:

Graskop lift company and forest experience – descend 51m down into a temperate  rain forest for boardwalk to study the plants & animals of the forest, zipline over the gorge

Quad biking through the forests and banana plantations

Day 3:

Kruger Park morning game drive in our bus with a knowledgeable guide

Kruger Park lesson with SANparks

Day 4:

Chimp Eden, a Jane Goodall Institute – education on chimpanzees as well as the stories of some of the rescued chimps

Grade 6 & 7: Pilanesberg

Day 1:

Hartbeespoort Elephant Sanctuary – elephant education and conservation

Explore the accommodation – swimming, river walk

Day 2:

Morning guided game drive in open safari vehicle in Pilanesberg NP

Afternoon Predator World Tour – predator education, treasure hunt to test new knowledge and reptile demonstration, comparison of animals in captivity to animals free roaming in the wild

Day 3:

Sun City and Valley of the waves – wave pool and some hectic water rides for sport & recreation

Afternoon with Mankwe Game Trackers for Archery and Team Building activities

Day 4:

Magaliesberg Canopy Tour (Gr 7 only) – explore the Magaliesberg MT through 10 ziplines (Gr 6 quad biking)

Grade 7: Drakensberg Mountains 

Day 1:

Scenic drive from Gauteng to a Drakensberg resort

Afternoon abseil, king swing and via ferrata, a climbing route in the mountains attached to steel cables

Day 2:

Falcon Ridge Bird of Prey Centre – raptor education, rehabilitation & flight demos

Chocolate Workshop to learn about chocolate making and an opportunity to taste different chocolates

Drakensberg Boys Choir concert (Wed only at certain times of the year) otherwise paint ball and high ropes tree climbing

Day 3:

Morning a challenging guided hike in the Drakensberg Mountains

Afternoon 12 stage zipling with Drakensberg Canopy Tours

Day 4

Scootour adventure and archery before travelling back to Gauteng

Grade 7 & 8: Blyde River

Day 1:

Moholoholo Animal Rehabilitation Centre – animal rehabilitation, vulture  programme, animals in the sanctuary and meet Stoffel the famous honey badger.

Potjiekos competition – how to make potjiekos, work as a team

Stalk the lantern night game

Day 2:

Blydepoortdam boat cruise – 2 h boat ride to see hippos, crocs, tufa waterfall, iconic  Three Rondavels mountain

Short hike to a waterfall in the only ‘green’ canyon in the world

Geckoing down the Blyde River with qualified river guides

Camp fire stories and time for reflection or debates

Day 3:

Morning game drive in our bus in Kruger Park to sight and learn about the mammals  of the Savanna biome

SANpark conservation lesson at Satara Rest Camp

Drumming workshop

Day 4:

River obstacle course – physical challenge, team work & problem solving

Grade 8: Cape Town

Day 1:

Flight to CT

Castle of Good Hope – trace the Cape from Khoisan to Dutch history

City Walk – Slave Lodge, Company Gardens, Parliament, St Georges Cathedral and  history from Dutch to British

V&A Waterfront – CT harbour, export and imports of CT

Cape Wheel – bird’s eye view of the city

Day 2:

Robben Island 11:00 tour – tour of the island and prison, Apartheid history

Table Mountain with the cable car – fynbos – a World Heritage Site

Bokaap Kombuis for traditional Cape Malay cuisine

Day 3:

Peninsula Tour:

Seal Island boat cruise – Cape Fur Seal colony, seal education, SA ban on the culling  of seals

Chapmans Peak Drive – most scenic coastal drive in the world

Boulders Beach – African Penguin education on this highly endangered species

Beach and swimming time in the chilly Atlantic Ocean with the cold Benguela  current

Day 4:

Cycle from Sea Point Pavilion to V&A Waterfront – exercise and fresh air

Two Oceans Aquarium – lesson on sustainability of marine life, explore marine life  in our two different oceans

Late afternoon flight

Grade 9: Garden Route and Little Karoo

Day 1:

Flight to George

Knysna Waterfront and an opportunity to taste an oyster

Garden of Eden – Temperate Afromontane Rain Forest

Forest obstacle course – to learn about the indigenous flora

Tjembe drumming workshop

SA braai in the forest

Day 2:

Monkeyland and Birds of Eden – largest primate sanctuary and free flight aviary in  the Southern Hemisphere, primate education

Tsitsikamma Canopy Tour – explore the temperate forest, hardwood trees through 10 ziplines

Day 3:

Featherbed Nature Reserve eco tour – ferry ride across the Knysna Estuary, 4×4  tractor ride up the Western Head and 1,5km coastal fynbos hike

Plettenberg Bay beach –  feel the warm Agulhas Current of the Indian Ocean

Ocean Safari in high speed boat to see and appreciate whales, dolphins, seals,  penguins

Day 4:

Morning kloofing in Wilderness on the Kaaimans River with qualified adventure. guides

Travel to Oudtshoorn, capital of the little Karoo – history of the area, unique climate

Ostrich Farm Tour – history, ostrich farming in SA, ostrich products

Supper with an opportunity to taste ostrich meat

Day 5:

Cango Caves – 1,5h Adventure Tour – early man in the area, cave formations,  experience some spelunking

George airport for late afternoon flight

Grade 9 & 10: Port Elizabeth and Storms River Adrenaline Adventure

Day 1:

Fly to Port Elizabeth / Gqeberha

Check into Addo Main Camp into forest cabins

Informative lesson at the SANparks informative centre

Addo sunset game drive – in an open Safari vehicle with a trained nature  guide and an opportunity to get up close to elephants

Dinner at Cattle Barons

Day 2:

Morning game drive in our bus

Brunch and ready to depart by 12:00

Pop into Jeffery’s Bay to visit Billabong Factory shop

Head to Storms River Village and check into a funky backpacker

Late afternoon to explore the village on Segways

Day 3:

Black water tubing in the morning with an adventure company and qualified   river guides – a 6 hour adrenaline experience and not for the faint hearted  nor weak swimmers

Early afternoon to explore Storms River mouth and the suspension bridge

Afternoon Tsitsikamma Canopy Tour for 11 amazing stages through Temperate Afromontane Forest

Braai for dinner

Day 4:

Robberg Nature Reserve 5,5km hike – see seals, penguins, gannets, terns, cormorants

Ocean Safari in high speed boat from Central Beach Plett – whales, dolphins,  seals, penguins

Surfing lesson at Central Beach

Restaurant at Knysna Waterfront for dinner

Day 5:

Morning head back to Gqeberha for a City Tour tracing the history of the 1820 settlers

Visit Fort Fredrick, The Donkin, Horse Memorial and Campanile

Late afternoon flight from Gqeberha airport

Grade 10: Victoria Falls Zimbabwe

Day 1:

Morning flight to Victoria Falls

Transfer to accommodation for lunch

Swimming at accommodation pools

Later afternoon sunset cruise on the Zambezi River – history, animal life, the falls

Day 2:   Day at the Falls

2,5h tour of Victoria Falls and the rain forest, history of David Livingstone

2h bridge tour – history of the area and the bridge

zipline from Zimbabwe to Zambia

Day 3:   Culture Day

Batoka Gorge Hike above the Zambezi River

Brunch at Ndebele headman’s home

Local Village Tour – interaction with a local tribe for a cross cultural experience

Day 4:  Chobe Day

Morning 3h game viewing boat cruise on the Chobe River

Lunch at a hotel

Afternoon 3h game drive in Chobe to see the mammals in this biome

Day 5:

Morning elephant interaction at an elephant sanctuary and orphanage – education   on elephants and hear their individual stories

Transfer to airport for flight back to Johannesburg

Grade 10 & 11: Namibia

Day 1: Joburg to Windhoek

Early flight to Windhoek with a brief City Tour showcasing old fort and famous Christuskirche Christ Church

Book into luxury tent accommodation

Day 2: Windhoek to Etsoha

Explore the Tree and Shrub Biome of Namibia on route to Etsoha, the flagship game reserve of our neighbouring country

Game drive the southern end of Etosha Game Reserve

Camp overnight in dome tents at a safari campsite with our overland company

Day 3: Etosha

Full day game driving from waterhole to waterhole to sight the Big 5 and other wildlife

Overnight camping at Okaukuejo Rest Camp inside the game reserve

Night game watching at the famous Okaukuejo waterhole

Day 4: Swakopmund

Morning travel through the Nama Karoo Biome into the Namid Desert Biome

Visit the Tropic of Capricorn Site

Afternoon time at the beach in Swakopmund

Overnight in dorms at a travellers lodge

Day 5: Swakopmund

Morning cultural visit at a village to explore their history, culture and customs.

Afternoon sandboarding and quad biking combo in the desert

Day 6: Sesriem and Soussusvlei

Morning explore the desert to the Sesriem Canyon

Late afternoon visit to Sossusvlei and Dead Vlei watching the late afternoon colour changes on the dunes

Day 7: Dune 45 to Windhoek

Early morning visit to Sossusvlei to experience the different colours of the morning light

Next we head to Dune 45, the most photographed sand dune in the world, to climb to the top.

Late afternoon arrive back in Windhoek for the last evening dinner at a restaurant

Overnight back at the luxury safari tent accommodation

Day 8: Windhoek to Johannesburg

Late morning flight back to Johannesburg